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Saturated steam: low surface tension and free molecular form make bacteria have nowhere to hide

ByJules Hsu

What exactly is the sterilization factor of steam sterilization?

Author: Jules Hsu 18 Feb. 2025 Catalog: sterilization methods

The difference between sterilizer and sterilization factor

Sterilization factor and sterilizer are different concepts. Only water above a certain temperature has the ability to kill microorganisms. Therefore, the industry standard clearly states that the sterilization factor of moist heat sterilization is heat, or that microorganisms die because of heat; however, the form of heat required for microorganisms in steam sterilization is moist heat, and the heat-carrying medium, that is, the sterilizer, is the steam generated by heating water.

Sterilization methods and equipment for different processes

Depending on the sterilized items and sterilization processes, the actual form of sterilizer containing heated water is also diverse. Medical institutions often use sterilizers composed of pure saturated steam. That is, the sterilizer in the saturated steam sterilization process is saturated steam, and the sterilization factor is the heat contained in saturated steam.

In addition to the saturated steam sterilization process, there are also mixed air sterilization using a mixture of steam and hot air, hot spray sterilization using steam and pressurized hot water, and water bath sterilization using pressurized hot water.

OSR produces all the above sterilizers. Welcome customers from all over the world to contact us. We will help you solve the difficulties and challenges in sterilization.

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What is special about saturated steam?

The water in steam exists in the form of free molecules, with low surface tension and strong wetting ability, that is, steam has strong penetrating power and can penetrate all surfaces of objects.

Saturated steam can be used to sterilize the packaged instruments at the last stage of the surgical instrument reprocessing process, and then it can be easier to maintain the sterility of the sterilized items.

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Jules Hsu

Jules Hsu is OSR’s Europe and Gulf Manager, originally from Frankfurt, Germany. Jules holds a postgraduate degree in mechanical engineering. He has been engaged in sanitary sterile equipment and filtration, serving customers mainly in Europe, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Turkey and North Africa. “I like to share my theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and work with like-minded people to promote the advancement of human medical and health technology.”